AILA Elects 2012-2013 Officers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 14, 2012
George Tzamaras or Belle Woods
202-507-7649 - 202-507-7675
gtzamaras@aila.org - bwoods@aila.org

NASHVILLE, TN - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) today elected new officers to its Executive Committee for the 2012-2013 term. The election results were announced at the official membership meeting during AILA's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN. The following officers were elected today: Laura Lichter was installed as AILA's President, T. Douglas Stump as President-Elect, Leslie A. Holman as First Vice President, Victor D. Nieblas Pradis as Second Vice President, William A. Stock as Treasurer, and Annaluisa Padilla as Secretary.

Laura Lichter Installed as New President of AILA

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) today installed Laura Lichter as the President of AILA for the 2012-2013 term. Ms. Lichter, an immigration attorney and expert from Denver, CO, was installed as the President of AILA during sessions of the association's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN.

Ms. Lichter's Denver-based practice emphasizes representation of removable aliens, contested family and naturalization applications, administrative appeals, and related Federal litigation.

A nationally-recognized expert and mentor, Ms. Lichter is a well-respected author and lecturer. Her commitment to community outreach, education, and access to counsel has been demonstrated by numerous projects, initiatives and pro bono cases over the years.

Ms. Lichter previously chaired the EOIR Liaison Committee as well as AILA's ICE Liaison Committee. Ms. Lichter graduated cum laude from Swarthmore College and earned her J.D. at the University of Colorado.

T. Douglas Stump Named President-Elect of AILA

AILA elected T. Douglas Stump, an immigration lawyer from Oklahoma City, OK, as the association's President-Elect. The election results were announced during sessions of AILA's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN.

For over 30 years, Mr. Stump has been an attorney, practicing immigration law exclusively, and maintaining offices in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He focuses his practice on employment-based immigration law, complex deportation, federal court litigation and family immigration matters.

A nationally recognized attorney, Mr. Stump has been listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers since 1996, and is listed in "Best Lawyers in America" for immigration law. Mr. Stump was recently recognized in Oklahoma Magazine as one of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Oklahoma, and has been afforded an AV Rating by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Mr. Stump previously chaired the National Security Liaison Committee and AILA's CIS Administrative Appeals Office Liaison Committee. Additionally, Mr. Stump is a senior editor for AILA Publications, and an adjunct professor of immigration law at the Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he earned his J.D.

Leslie A. Holman Named First Vice President of AILA

AILA elected Leslie A. Holman, an immigration attorney from Burlington, VT, as the association's First Vice President for the 2012-2013 term. The election results were announced during sessions of AILA's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN.

Ms. Holman has been practicing law for 26 years and focusing exclusively on immigration related issues since 1999. She is the founder of Holman Immigration Law, a law firm located in Burlington, VT, and limited to the practice of immigration and nationality matters. She represents both corporate and individual clients.

Ms. Holman has served as the Chair of AILA's Admissions and Border Enforcement Committee, the Vice Chair of AILA's National CBP Liaison Committee, a member of AILA's National Interagency Committee, and she is also the AILA New England Chapter liaison to regional ports of entry.

Ms. Holman is also a member the Vermont State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights and a board member of the Chittenden Valley Health Area Education Center. In 2008, she was awarded AILA's distinguished "Sam Williamson Mentor Award." She speaks frequently to a wide variety of audiences on all aspects of immigration.

Victor D. Nieblas Pradis Named Second Vice President of AILA

AILA elected Victor D. Nieblas Pradis, an immigration attorney from City of Industry, CA, as the association's Second Vice President. The election results were announced during sessions of AILA's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN.

Mr. Nieblas practices Immigration Law in Southern California where he focuses on deportation defense, Federal Court litigation, consular abroad processing, immigrant and non-immigrant visas, waivers and appellate work. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. An AILA member since 1997, he has served the Association as a Director on the Board of Governors and as Chair of the Southern California Chapter. He is a past Chairperson for the Immigration Law Section for the Hispanic National Bar Association, a past Trustee for the Mexican American Bar Association (MABA), and past chairperson of the MABA Immigration Subcommittee.

Mr. Nieblas is the guest legal commentator for several local news broadcasts, including "Noticias 22" News in Los Angeles, Univisión's Primera Edición, and Telemundo's Evening News in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Nieblas has also hosted a Cable Television show named "Inmigración 411" where he provides answers to viewer questions and is recognized as an immigration expert. He is also regularly quoted in major national print media and often appears on national news broadcasts discussing Immigration Law.

William A. Stock Named Treasurer of AILA

AILA elected William A. Stock, an immigration attorney from Philadelphia, PA, as the association's new Treasurer. The election results were announced during sessions of AILA's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN.

Mr. Stock is a founding partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP, in the firm's Philadelphia office. He handles all aspects of immigration law, including employment based immigration for all sizes of companies as well as individuals, complex family-based matters, citizenship and naturalization matters, defending removal proceedings and DOL enforcement proceedings, and litigating in the federal courts.

He previously served as an elected Director for the AILA Board of Governors, as well as the Business Committee Chair, and the Distance Learning Committee Chair. He has spoken at numerous immigration conferences and written extensively, including being a Senior Editor of AILA's annual Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook.

A summa cum laude graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, Mr. Stock received his law degree from the University of Minnesota. In 2000, he received AILA's Joseph Minsky Award for outstanding accomplishments in immigration law. In addition to his practice, he has also been an Adjunct Professor at Villanova University School of Law.

Annaluisa Padilla Elected Secretary of AILA

AILA elected Annaluisa Padilla, an immigration attorney from La Habra, CA, as the association's new Secretary. The election results were announced during sessions of AILA's 56th Annual Conference being held in Nashville, TN.

Ms. Padilla was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States in 1983. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and her law degree from Whittier Law School. Ms. Padilla is a member of AILA and Immigration and Family Law Sections of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She has volunteered with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), the Domestic Violence Project, the HIV & AIDS Legal Services Alliance, and the Immigration Legal Assistance Project. She is fluent in Spanish, conversational in German and Portuguese. She was recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2011 and 2012.

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.